‘United States Security Strategy a wake-up call for Europe’ - Cuffe

The Green Party has called on the Irish Government to respond to the publication of a new National Security Strategy by the United States. Describing the document as an attempt to break up the European Union, it called on Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee to work with EU High Commissioner on Foreign Affairs Kaja Callas in responding.

Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and former MEP Ciarán Cuffe said:

“The Irish Government cannot ignore the threat posed by the United States in this new National Security Strategy document. The White House appears to be taking a leaf from the Kremlin’s playbook in seeking to dismantle the European Union. The USA is acting more like a petrostate and corporate lobbyist, rather than upholding the values of democracy and rule of law which it previously championed.

“In stating that Europe should ‘operate as a group of aligned sovereign nations’ rather than as a union of Member States working together, Donald Trump is undermining half a century of European progress. By suggesting that Europe faces ‘civilizational erasure’ the US President is damaging norms of transatlantic engagement that have served us well for generations. For the US to suggest prioritising ‘resistance to Europe’s current trajectory’ is deeply concerning. Failing to mention support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine seems more aligned to Putin’s war of aggression that Zelensky’s wish for peace. 

“The European Commission must continue to defend the EU’s digital rules and stand up to the ‘commercial diplomacy’ from the White House. Ireland and our EU partners must make it clear to Donald Trump that we have much more in common than what divides us and make it clear that this new US strategy is unacceptable and plays into Russia’s hand. As Ireland prepares to take over the presidency of the European Council in six months’ time, McEntee must work with our EU partners to respond.”